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THE WAY IT WAS

Porter Smith left war behind to become county leader

The Atlantic Coast Line train depot in 1909 was located on Osceola Street behind the Ocala House Hotel, which is the red brick building to the left of the depot. The tracks ran down the middle of Osceola Street crossing Silver Springs Boulevard. The original tracks still remain.

File photo submitted by Mark Hammer

By David CookColumnist

Published: Sunday, June 16, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.

The Smith family in the Wacahoota area, located in the extreme northwest corner of Marion County, goes back to the pioneer days of the 1800s, when the county was being hacked out of the wilderness.

In the first days of Marion as an organized county, in 1844, Wacahoota was briefly considered for the location of the county seat but was ruled out because of its distance from Fort King. Orange Springs also was ruled out because of its location, although these two communities were the most populated in those days.

The Smiths were among the early planters who came down from South Carolina in droves to take advantage of the availability of farmland to those willing to take up arms against any marauders (meaning mostly, the Indians, identified today as Seminoles).

It was the South Carolinians who enthusiastically adopted the name of their famous Revolutionary War hero for their new Florida county.

Much of what became Marion County, including Wacahoota, came from a vast area called Alachua, but parts also came from Mosquito (later Orange) and Hillsborough counties. Part of Wacahoota is still in today's Alachua County. In fact, the community has migrated in that direction to take advantage of a railroad depot.

The Smiths are still there today, always taking a prominent part in the affairs of Marion County, and given their location, in Alachua as well.

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One of them, J. Porter Smith, became a hero in the Confederacy during the Civil War, as well as one of Marion County's political leaders during Reconstruction and afterwards. His death at age 79 in April 1902 was an occasion for special recognition in the Ocala newspapers, the Star and the Banner.

The Star said Porter Smith was “a man of high character, clear and correct judgment, honest and honorable in all his dealing with his fellow men.” He provided wise council, the Star said, despite the fact the voters declined to elect him to the State Legislature in 1884 when Republicans carried the day in Marion County.

Even with two Confederate heroes like Porter Smith and Col. J.M. Martin on the Democratic ballot, the Democrats could not break the GOP's political grip on the county that year. But Smith and Martin blazed the train for future Democratic successes.

■ ■ ■

Henry W. Long of Martel, a county commissioner and another former Confederate, recalled Porter Smith's war career on the occasion of his massive funeral at Wacahoota Methodist Church burial grounds.

Long first met him in Ocala in the summer of 1863 at the organization of Capt. J.C. Eichelberger's company. Smith became first lieutenant, and Long was made a second lieutenant. They were sent to Camp Finegan and assigned to the Ninth Florida regiment, which was under the command of Col. J.M. Martin.

From then until the war ended at the Appomatox courthouse in April 1865, Long and Smith ate together and side by side faced “the same perils and confided in each other as brothers.” Long said there was a common tie of love for Marion County and the Confederate cause.

■ ■ ■

The two men fought in the battle of Olustee, and after that victory over Union forces, they went north to Virginia to join Gen. Robert E. Lee's army in its major battles during the remainder of 1864 and early 1865, when the Confederate army was at the point of collapse.

Somehow, Porter Smith went through a number of battles without being wounded. Long called him a true friend and a brave soldier. Smith, Martin and Long, were able to return to their respective farms and became involved in the affairs of their home county.

Long recalled visiting the large Smith family in the parlor of their Wacahoota home. With sparkling wit, Porter Smith would entertain the family and require each of his children to tell about his or her activities.

“Each one of this happy family vied with the other to entertain each other as to make life pleasant to keep and maintain a happy home,” Long said in his eulogy.

Porter Smith's survivors included sons C.M. Smith and T.M. Smith of Wacahoota, and three daughters, all married, Mrs. C.C. Pedrick and Mrs. J.P. Bankwright of Gainesville, and Mrs. W.M. Hogell of Johnson, S.C.

■ ■ ■

Porter Smith's early life was spent on the farm in South Carolina. He was educated at Cokesberry, however, and married before coming to Florida in 1854 to begin a vital farm operation that his family has continued until today.

It is not clear whether Smith's health at the time permitted him to attend the Confederate reunion held in Ocala a few months before his death. Long and Martin were there, receiving honors for their service to the Lost Cause. Martin, in fact, was one of the main speakers.

■ ■ ■

In the same edition of the Star that announced the death of Porter Smith, there was a report that the Atlantic Coastline Railroad had brought out the remaining assets of the Plant railroad system that had played such an important part in development of the rail lines through Marion County. The Florida Southern, which served Ocala and, in fact, ran down the middle of Osceola Avenue, already was under the control of the ACL.

The ACL would convert the Florida Southern passenger station in Ocala into a district headquarters. The Wacahoota station would remain outside of Marion County, continuing to cause confusion among those who want to identify the location of the community.

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An avid Marion County historian, David Cook is a retired editor of the Star-Banner. He may be contacted at 237-2535.

<p>The Smith family in the Wacahoota area, located in the extreme northwest corner of Marion County, goes back to the pioneer days of the 1800s, when the county was being hacked out of the wilderness. </p><p>In the first days of Marion as an organized county, in 1844, Wacahoota was briefly considered for the location of the county seat but was ruled out because of its distance from Fort King. Orange Springs also was ruled out because of its location, although these two communities were the most populated in those days. </p><p>The Smiths were among the early planters who came down from South Carolina in droves to take advantage of the availability of farmland to those willing to take up arms against any marauders (meaning mostly, the Indians, identified today as Seminoles).</p><p>It was the South Carolinians who enthusiastically adopted the name of their famous Revolutionary War hero for their new Florida county.</p><p>Much of what became Marion County, including Wacahoota, came from a vast area called Alachua, but parts also came from Mosquito (later Orange) and Hillsborough counties. Part of Wacahoota is still in today's Alachua County. In fact, the community has migrated in that direction to take advantage of a railroad depot.</p><p>The Smiths are still there today, always taking a prominent part in the affairs of Marion County, and given their location, in Alachua as well. </p><p>■ ■ ■</p><p>One of them, J. Porter Smith, became a hero in the Confederacy during the Civil War, as well as one of Marion County's political leaders during Reconstruction and afterwards. His death at age 79 in April 1902 was an occasion for special recognition in the Ocala newspapers, the Star and the Banner. </p><p>The Star said Porter Smith was “a man of high character, clear and correct judgment, honest and honorable in all his dealing with his fellow men.” He provided wise council, the Star said, despite the fact the voters declined to elect him to the State Legislature in 1884 when Republicans carried the day in Marion County. </p><p>Even with two Confederate heroes like Porter Smith and Col. J.M. Martin on the Democratic ballot, the Democrats could not break the GOP's political grip on the county that year. But Smith and Martin blazed the train for future Democratic successes.</p><p>■ ■ ■</p><p>Henry W. Long of Martel, a county commissioner and another former Confederate, recalled Porter Smith's war career on the occasion of his massive funeral at Wacahoota Methodist Church burial grounds. </p><p>Long first met him in Ocala in the summer of 1863 at the organization of Capt. J.C. Eichelberger's company. Smith became first lieutenant, and Long was made a second lieutenant. They were sent to Camp Finegan and assigned to the Ninth Florida regiment, which was under the command of Col. J.M. Martin. </p><p>From then until the war ended at the Appomatox courthouse in April 1865, Long and Smith ate together and side by side faced “the same perils and confided in each other as brothers.” Long said there was a common tie of love for Marion County and the Confederate cause. </p><p>■ ■ ■</p><p>The two men fought in the battle of Olustee, and after that victory over Union forces, they went north to Virginia to join Gen. Robert E. Lee's army in its major battles during the remainder of 1864 and early 1865, when the Confederate army was at the point of collapse. </p><p>Somehow, Porter Smith went through a number of battles without being wounded. Long called him a true friend and a brave soldier. Smith, Martin and Long, were able to return to their respective farms and became involved in the affairs of their home county. </p><p>Long recalled visiting the large Smith family in the parlor of their Wacahoota home. With sparkling wit, Porter Smith would entertain the family and require each of his children to tell about his or her activities. </p><p>“Each one of this happy family vied with the other to entertain each other as to make life pleasant to keep and maintain a happy home,” Long said in his eulogy. </p><p>Porter Smith's survivors included sons C.M. Smith and T.M. Smith of Wacahoota, and three daughters, all married, Mrs. C.C. Pedrick and Mrs. J.P. Bankwright of Gainesville, and Mrs. W.M. Hogell of Johnson, S.C. </p><p>■ ■ ■</p><p>Porter Smith's early life was spent on the farm in South Carolina. He was educated at Cokesberry, however, and married before coming to Florida in 1854 to begin a vital farm operation that his family has continued until today. </p><p>It is not clear whether Smith's health at the time permitted him to attend the Confederate reunion held in Ocala a few months before his death. Long and Martin were there, receiving honors for their service to the Lost Cause. Martin, in fact, was one of the main speakers. </p><p> ■ ■ ■</p><p>In the same edition of the Star that announced the death of Porter Smith, there was a report that the Atlantic Coastline Railroad had brought out the remaining assets of the Plant railroad system that had played such an important part in development of the rail lines through Marion County. The Florida Southern, which served Ocala and, in fact, ran down the middle of Osceola Avenue, already was under the control of the ACL. </p><p>The ACL would convert the Florida Southern passenger station in Ocala into a district headquarters. The Wacahoota station would remain outside of Marion County, continuing to cause confusion among those who want to identify the location of the community. </p><p>----</p><p><i>An avid Marion County historian, David Cook is a retired editor of the Star-Banner. He may be contacted at 237-2535.</i></p>